Aalst, Belgium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aalst | |
|---|---|
| Region: | Flanders |
| Province: | East Flanders |
| District: | Aalst |
| Area: | 78.12 km² |
| Population: | 77,360 (2006) |
| Population density: | 990 /km² |
Aalst (French: Alost) is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade, Meldert, Moorsel, and Nieuwerkerken. The current mayor of Aalst is Anny De Maght-Aelbrecht, until recently from the VLD (Liberal) party but now independent.
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[edit] History
The first historical records on Aalst date from the 9th century, when it was described as the villa Alost, a dependency of the Abbey of Lobbes. During the Middle Ages, a town and port grew at this strategic point, where the road from Bruges to Cologne crossed the Dender. In the 11th century, Aalst was transferred from the pagus of Brabant to the County of Flanders. Its frontier position on the border of the Holy Roman Empire allowed it, however, to keep a certain degree of independence. Its relation with Brabant has been preserved in the city’s white and red coat of arms, the colours of Lotharingia.
Construction of the town hall began in the middle of the 12th century. Several manuscripts from this period still survive. The city was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1360. The town was soon rebuilt and a new belfry in gothic style was build in the 15th century. This was a time of great prosperity for the city, dominated by the powerful weavers' guild. It is also at that time that Dirk Martens, a local citizen, became the Southern Netherlands’ first printer, publishing books by various authors including Christopher Columbus.
Aalst suffered considerably under the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648). It was later taken by France in the War of Devolution of 1667, then occupied by France until well into the 18th century. The textile-based economy flourished under the French. The 19th century was marked by the social crises engendered by the Industrial Revolution, with Father Adolf Daens emerging as the local defender of the workers' rights.
[edit] Events
Aalst is famous for its carnival festivities, celebrated every year in February. A Prince Carnaval is elected, who is allowed to "rule" the city for three days. A big parade crosses the city on Sunday, with about 70 groups of costumed volunteers and parade cars. Carnaval Tuesday (by tradition, the day before Ash Wednesday), is known as the day of the 'Voil Jeannetten' (literally: "the Dirty Jennies"), i.e. men dressed as women.
[edit] Sites of interest
- The famous St. Martin's Collegiate Church, in Gothic style, dates back to 1480. It contains a famous painting by Rubens, "Saint Roch beseeching Christ to terminate the Plague at Aalst".
- Aalst is also proud of a beautiful tabernacle (dated 1605), which features sculptures made by Hieronymus Duquesnoy the Elder.
- The belfry, one of the oldest and most handsome of Flanders, contains a 52-bell carillon. Together with the adjacent Aldermen’s House, it was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999.
- The statue of Dirk Martens (1446-1534), first bookprinter in the Netherlands.
[edit] Famous inhabitants
- Adolf Daens (1839-1907), priest and politician
- Franz Cumont (1868-1947), archeologist, historian, and philologist
- Louis Paul Boon (1912-1979), writer
- Mark De Bie (b. 1939), television writer
- Sabine Appelmans (b. 1972), tennis player
- Peter Van Der Heyden (b. 1976), Belgian and international soccer player
[edit] Twin city
[edit] External links
- Official website - Only available in Dutch
[edit] References
- "Aalst." The Encyclopedia Britannica.
- "Aalst." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.
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Municipalities in the province of East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium |
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|---|---|---|
| Aalst: | Aalst | Denderleeuw | Erpe-Mere | Geraardsbergen | Haaltert | Herzele | Lede | Ninove | Sint-Lievens-Houtem | Zottegem | | ||
| Dendermonde: | Berlare | Buggenhout | Dendermonde | Hamme | Laarne | Lebbeke | Waasmunster | Wetteren | Wichelen | Zele | | ||
| Eeklo: | Assenede | Eeklo | Kaprijke | Maldegem | Sint-Laureins | Zelzate | | ||
| Ghent: | Aalter | Deinze | De Pinte | Destelbergen | Evergem | Gavere | Ghent | Knesselare | Lochristi | Lovendegem | Melle | Merelbeke | Moerbeke | Nazareth | Nevele | Oosterzele | Sint-Martens-Latem | Waarschoot | Wachtebeke | Zomergem | Zulte | | ||
| Oudenaarde: | Brakel | Horebeke | Kluisbergen | Kruishoutem | Lierde | Maarkedal | Oudenaarde | Ronse | Wortegem-Petegem | Zingem | Zwalm | | ||
| Sint-Niklaas: | Beveren | Kruibeke | Lokeren | Sint-Gillis-Waas | Sint-Niklaas | Stekene | Temse | | ||
